Set up gig economy commission quickly, govt told after e-hailing dispute

Transport think tank MY Mobility Vision (MMV) today called for the establishment of the Malaysian Gig Economy Commission (SEGiM) to be expedited following the Gig Workers Tribunal’s recent decisions on disputes involving an e-hailing company.

In a statement, MMV said the tribunal’s decisions should be translated into “clear and fair rules that everyone in the industry can understand and follow”.

These include the way an e-hailing driver accepts a booking, a system which differs from one platform to another, it said.

“What we need are clear rules that protect workers while allowing businesses the flexibility to decide how best to meet those rules.”

It said a body like SEGiM, which the government approved in March, could help the government bring all sides together, understand the wider impact of policy decisions and build a more stable future for the gig economy.

“Gig workers and platforms are not enemies. They depend on each other, and the government’s responsibility is to create fair rules that allow both to succeed,” it said.

MMV was commenting on the tribunal’s finding that GrabCar’s use of the “auto accept” and “fast cancel” mechanisms violated the Gig Workers Act 2025.

In a separate case, the tribunal also found breaches of temporary booking pauses and booking cancellation quotas.

MMV said once established, SEGiM should complement the Gig Workers Tribunal and the Gig Workers Consultative Council by bridging the two initiatives.

Most importantly, it said, SEGiM should help prevent problems instead of simply reacting after they happen.

“We should not have to wait for another driver or platform to bring a dispute to the tribunal before the industry starts addressing an issue that could affect thousands of others.

“We need a system where problems can be raised early, different views can be heard and practical solutions can be developed before disagreements become bigger.”